Depending on the time of year a trip to the Laurentian's (north) can be very rewarding especially in the fall as leaves change to red, yellow etc.

Within Montreal - old Montreal and port offer good oppertunities - Sherbrooke and St. Catherine's for people and buildings - St Denis and St Laurent for people and buildings - Mount Royal - churches of all ages and styles from the RC Cathedral (Mary Queen of the World) to St Joseph's Oratory and so on.

thanks for the info guys, yes those are all very nice spots. i have been to most of these places actually. what i am actually looking for is a spot where i can really test out my new equipment, i.e. canon 70-200mm is lens. i was hoping to find a place where i can get realtively close to animals in movement, just to practice. any suggestions?

what i am actually looking for is a spot where i can really test out my new equipment, i.e. canon 70-200mm is lens. i was hoping to find a place where i can get realtively close to animals in movement, just to practice. any suggestions?

If you're just looking to practice, and if you're using digital you won't be 'wasting' film, then any city park will have a number of habituated animals from chipmunks and squirrels to raccoons, and possibly larger animals. With a little food you'll find having them far enough away to focus will be more of a problem. Gulls are easily attracted to food also, and will allow you to practice panning/zooming, etc. Ditto ducks/ geese. Anywhere you find a bird feeder you'll find songbirds, from chickadees on up to and sometimes including crows.

In the 'wild' - unless you get really wild where animals aren't used to humans at all - getting close without a blind is often next to impossible.

Mike.

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If your mind is attuned to beauty, you find beauty in everything.~ Jean Cooke ~

The Eco Museum (close to the Western tip of the Island just off the 40) is a small zoo in a natural setting. My young son loves to go to see the ducks and the raptors. It is seldom very crowded and you can get quite close to the animals. I have got good pictures of almost everything there except the lynx, which haven't been very cooperative (and they like to sleep during the day). I live 5 mintutes away so we go frequently.